Dash leather shrinking
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Dash leather shrinking
Going to take the car in to the dealer and see what they say but thought I would ask if anyone else has seen this or had other leather defects fixed under warrantee?
2018 GT Roadster, on the dash just on the RHS of the instrument binnacle between the windshield and the binnacle and the display panel (hard to describe and take a picture of) the leather has shrunk and detached from the dash where it is a concave curve.
This is one of those things that once seen can't be unseen and is staring me in the face anytime I drive the car.
2018 GT Roadster, on the dash just on the RHS of the instrument binnacle between the windshield and the binnacle and the display panel (hard to describe and take a picture of) the leather has shrunk and detached from the dash where it is a concave curve.
This is one of those things that once seen can't be unseen and is staring me in the face anytime I drive the car.
#3
My buddy, with a 2016 GTS, is currently on month 2 of an expected 5 month wait, to get his dash replaced under warranty for the same thing. His car came from Arizona.
#7
Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Delray Beach, FL
Posts: 242
Received 105 Likes
on
66 Posts
'18 AMG GTC, '96 BMW 318i, '10 Audi Q5 (wife)
Living in So FL, one of the first things I did was get a sunshade. I never park during the day without it. Weathertech makes a good one, but you have to order it as GTS even if you have a GTC or GTR. https://www.weathertech.com/mercedes...gt-s/sunshade/
It's easy to store. I can just roll it up and shove it behind one of the seats.
Even if you aren't in the sunbelt, over time the sun dries out and accelerates damage to the leather on the dash and elsewhere. Regardless of whether or not you use a sunshade, you still want to condition all of your leather surfaces to keep them supple and looking new and to prevent them from drying out and cracking.
It's easy to store. I can just roll it up and shove it behind one of the seats.
Even if you aren't in the sunbelt, over time the sun dries out and accelerates damage to the leather on the dash and elsewhere. Regardless of whether or not you use a sunshade, you still want to condition all of your leather surfaces to keep them supple and looking new and to prevent them from drying out and cracking.
The following users liked this post:
C280 Sport (07-17-2019)
Trending Topics
#9
South Florida car, had mine replaced under warranty. I believe the car was stored outside on the dealer lot before I purchased it. Black with silver stitching, they had 1 in stock in the US so only lost the car for a week while in service. The entire top half of the dash was replaced as a single unit and they move over your existing A/C vents and such.
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
Whenever I parked the car in Atlanta as hot as it is right now I always park in the *** in the sun to prevent this.
But having an all leather interior nap exclusive you have to treat it with a lot of oil because it was really dry from the factory.
But having an all leather interior nap exclusive you have to treat it with a lot of oil because it was really dry from the factory.
#11
Member
Thread Starter
Took the car in today so they could have a look, They said sorry this should not happen and ordered a new dash from Germany, 7 to 10 days so I set up an appointment for 2 weeks.
Going to have them tint the windows at the same time. I think a sun shade for the front windscreen will be on the books also.
Going to have them tint the windows at the same time. I think a sun shade for the front windscreen will be on the books also.
The following users liked this post:
Pete De La Mare (07-26-2019)
#12
Member
Hi, I just bought a out-of-warranty 2016 AMG GT S with the leather dash. It appears to have shrunk too, because it is pulling away from the center speaker.
Also, the leather appears to be stretched without support (floating/unglued?) between the instrument cluster hump and the windscreen. It is not supposed to be like this, right? If I press my fingers down there, the leather flexes down like I am pressing down on a leather trampoline; there is air rather than solid dash under the leather.
Video of the floating leather: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10fd...ew?usp=sharing
Thanks!
Also, the leather appears to be stretched without support (floating/unglued?) between the instrument cluster hump and the windscreen. It is not supposed to be like this, right? If I press my fingers down there, the leather flexes down like I am pressing down on a leather trampoline; there is air rather than solid dash under the leather.
Video of the floating leather: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10fd...ew?usp=sharing
Thanks!
#14
Member
#15
Last edited by big_willy; 09-23-2020 at 12:37 AM.
The following users liked this post:
503hp (09-23-2020)
#17
Super Member
Hi, I just bought a out-of-warranty 2016 AMG GT S with the leather dash. It appears to have shrunk too, because it is pulling away from the center speaker.
Also, the leather appears to be stretched without support (floating/unglued?) between the instrument cluster hump and the windscreen. It is not supposed to be like this, right? If I press my fingers down there, the leather flexes down like I am pressing down on a leather trampoline; there is air rather than solid dash under the leather.
Video of the floating leather: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10fd...ew?usp=sharing
Thanks!
Also, the leather appears to be stretched without support (floating/unglued?) between the instrument cluster hump and the windscreen. It is not supposed to be like this, right? If I press my fingers down there, the leather flexes down like I am pressing down on a leather trampoline; there is air rather than solid dash under the leather.
Video of the floating leather: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10fd...ew?usp=sharing
Thanks!
#18
Member
Did the AMG GT come with MB Tex dashboards too? I wonder if replacing the shrunk leather dash with a MB Tex dashboard would prevent this issue from reoccurring. (I hear that the Ferrari guys sometimes use Alcantara in place leather when they fix their dashboards, because the synthetic Alcantara does not shrink under heat.)
#19
Member
I got quotes for fixing the dashboard. For the local skilled interior shop to refinish the in leather is about $2,800. A brand new dashboard from the Mercedes parts department is ~$6,300, and that's before tax and labor to install it!
The leather shop thought the idea of redoing the dashboard in Alcantara or MB Tex was ridiculous.
The leather shop thought the idea of redoing the dashboard in Alcantara or MB Tex was ridiculous.
#20
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: California
Posts: 1,291
Received 623 Likes
on
369 Posts
2020 McLaren 720s Spider
I got quotes for fixing the dashboard. For the local skilled interior shop to refinish the in leather is about $2,800. A brand new dashboard from the Mercedes parts department is ~$6,300, and that's before tax and labor to install it!
The leather shop thought the idea of redoing the dashboard in Alcantara or MB Tex was ridiculous.
The leather shop thought the idea of redoing the dashboard in Alcantara or MB Tex was ridiculous.
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Mercedes-AMG...AAAOSw7iZdtxBE
The following users liked this post:
503hp (09-29-2020)
#21
Member
Going to take the car in to the dealer and see what they say but thought I would ask if anyone else has seen this or had other leather defects fixed under warrantee?
2018 GT Roadster, on the dash just on the RHS of the instrument binnacle between the windshield and the binnacle and the display panel (hard to describe and take a picture of) the leather has shrunk and detached from the dash where it is a concave curve.
This is one of those things that once seen can't be unseen and is staring me in the face anytime I drive the car.
2018 GT Roadster, on the dash just on the RHS of the instrument binnacle between the windshield and the binnacle and the display panel (hard to describe and take a picture of) the leather has shrunk and detached from the dash where it is a concave curve.
This is one of those things that once seen can't be unseen and is staring me in the face anytime I drive the car.
#22
Member
My understanding is that you'll need a professional automotive leather and upholstery shop to take your dash out, pull off the shrunk leathers and install fresh leather.
#23
Member
Thanks for the input. This isn't an easy fix apparently which is too bad since the car has been garaged since day 1.
#24
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,184
Received 877 Likes
on
452 Posts
Bentley Continental GT; AMG GT
This "lifting" leather on the dash is a problem common on several other makes too. Astons, Audis, Bentleys, Corvettes, to name a few (models with which I am personally familiar).
The absolute best defense against this happening in the first place is a sun shade, used religiously. Leather treatments (treating leather especially with aftermarket products) is a whole debate unto itself and in the interest of forum peace, not a can of worms I want to open here.
Something interesting that I've observed directly from several years on Corvette forums across a number of different MYs where this topic is commonplace; and since the Corvette is mass produced and every MY has customer chosen interior options, one of which is always leather, the rest vinyl (or other man made derivatives), the lifting shrinking cases are always leather. I cannot cite a single example of the vinyl dashes ever lifting.
The absolute best defense against this happening in the first place is a sun shade, used religiously. Leather treatments (treating leather especially with aftermarket products) is a whole debate unto itself and in the interest of forum peace, not a can of worms I want to open here.
Something interesting that I've observed directly from several years on Corvette forums across a number of different MYs where this topic is commonplace; and since the Corvette is mass produced and every MY has customer chosen interior options, one of which is always leather, the rest vinyl (or other man made derivatives), the lifting shrinking cases are always leather. I cannot cite a single example of the vinyl dashes ever lifting.
#25
Member
From your signature it looks like you are loyal MB customer. If you have a good relationship with your dealership, you might ask them if they'd do a goodwill repair on the dash. I don't know if this is a thing at Mercedes, but it was certainly a thing at BMW, and I got my M3 transmission seals repaired for 10% of the cost thanks to some BMW goodwill.